Fremont police chief steps down
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on February 15, 2006 1:50 PM
FREMONT -- Fremont Police Chief Ben Reid Jr., who said he would resign next week, stepped down Tuesday.
The 64-year-old Reid had told the Town Board of Aldermen in a special meeting Jan. 31 that he was resigning Feb. 21. But he accelerated his retirement plans earlier this week.
Sgt. Wayne Schwark, who was to take over as acting chief next week, assumed the job Tuesday morning.
Town Administrator Kerry McDuffie announced the changes Wednesday.
The town had planned a reception for Reid on Feb. 21, but the outgoing chief asked town officials to postpone the event, McDuffie said.
Reid was appointed as the town's second black police chief in August, 2003, after he had served as interim chief six times. He was promoted from captain to succeed Terry Grant as chief.
Reid worked about 41 years with the town's Police Department. He worked 30 years during the day at O'Berry Center and the worked part time at night with the police. After he retired from O'Berry Center, he joined the department on a full-time basis in 1994. He served as a sergeant under several chiefs, including Floyd Hobbs and Ken Barrett.